Asbestos deaths heard at inquests

ASBESTOSIS has claimed the life of three more Ipswich men, inquests have heard.

During a series of inquests at Ipswich Crown Court on Wednesday , Greater Suffolk Coroner Dr Peter Dean heard details of the deaths of Harry McAuliffe, Derek Rattle and Stanley Paget.

All three men contracted mesethelioma, a form of lung cancer, following exposure to asbestos during their working lives.

Mr McAuliffe, of Wells Close, Ipswich, was 62 when he died at the St Elizabeth Hospice in Ipswich on February 15. The coroner recorded a verdict of death by industrial disease.

Mr Rattle, of Churchill Avenue, Ipswich, died from mesothelioma on March 29.

The 74-year-old had worked as a car parts manager but the inquest was unable to uncover any obvious exposure to asbestos during his life.

Dr Dean found that the exposure had most likely occurred in a workplace Mr Rattle had once been based in and recorded a verdict of industrial disease.

Mr Paget, of Ashcroft Road, Ipswich, died on May 1 at Ipswich Hospital.

The inquest found that Mr Paget died from the combined effects of industrial disease, in particular mesothelioma, and natural causes.

Mr Paget, who was 86, was a retired general maintenance worker exposed to asbestos at his work between 1968 and 1982.

The Evening Star has been fighting to raise awareness of the deadly effects of asbestosis and highlight the plight of victims and the family they have left behind.

Has your family been touched by asbestosis? Would you like to pay tribute to the men? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or send us an e-mail to eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk